Rescuers in Gaza, 5 dead after a pile of sand collapsed on some tents
Heavy rains have flooded tens of thousands of tents in the Gaza Strip
Quick Look
- Five people, including three children and two women, died in Gaza after a pile of sand collapsed on some tents at a reception center south of Deir al-Balah.
- Heavy rains have flooded around 70,000 tents in the Gaza Strip.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The Gaza Strip is ravaged by war and hosts tens of thousands of displaced people in tents. Yesterday's heavy rains flooded around 70,000 tents, leaving many without shelter.
The Gaza rescue service announced in the evening that five people - three children and two women - lost their lives in an accident linked to the heavy rains that began the previous day.
"A pile of sand collapsed on some tents hosting displaced people inside a reception center south of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip," said Mahmud Bassal, spokesman for Gaza's civil protection.
"Rescue teams continue to search for the missing," he added.
A video circulating on social media shows dozens of men at the site: some trying to lift a large stone slab, while others dig underneath with shovels.
The agency also warned displaced people to "avoid setting up tents or standing near accumulations of sand and mounds of earth, especially during rainfall, as they pose a serious danger to their lives", and urged humanitarian organizations to provide the necessary equipment.
Heavy rains yesterday flooded tens of thousands of tents housing displaced people in the war-torn Gaza Strip, leaving them without shelter, according to Palestinian authorities. In a statement, the Hamas-run government press office reported that around "70,000 tents, sheltering tens of thousands of displaced people, were flooded during the first day" of rain.
Open Questions
- How many people are still missing after the accident?
- What specific equipment will humanitarian organizations provide?
- How many people were left without shelter due to the flooding?
